Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Deathbed promise, stolen treasure, Vegas casino, desert road trip, unmarked graves, and the journey of a lifetime, as four poker buddies uncover clues leading to more than one type of treasure.

A forensic psychologist working for the FBI moves to Shipwreck Island and renews her relationship with her sisters, aunt, best friend, and old flame. While on the island she is introduced to Ezra Reinhold, a reclusive billionaire who enjoys poking around in cold cases and has the means to hire the best people to find the answers no one else has been able to.

In book 10 in the series, Sydney is busily packing for a romantic getaway with her boyfriend, Doctor Logan Alexander, when Colin Black, her boss at the FBI, calls to ask her for a time sensitive favor. It seems that Enzo Masterson, aka The Joker, has died, and upon his death he has bequeathed to his four poker buddies from the Sunny Meadows Senior Living Home clues that, Colin believes, will lead them to stolen treasure worth tens of millions of dollars. Colin had unsuccessfully been chasing The Joker his entire career, after inheriting the unsolved thefts from his father, who was an agent for the FBI in the sixties and seventies when the thefts occurred. Colin's father has passed on now, but Colin is determined to find the seemingly impossible to find treasure on his father's behalf. His belief that Enzon Masterson left his buddies the very treasure Colin has been after, prompted Colin to call in one of the many favors Syd owes him.

After a bit of back and forth, Syd agrees to Colin's plan to switch her and Logan out for the motor coach drivers the poker buddies hired to take them on their adventure. Syd's mission is simply to go along and observe. She is to listen to conversations, gather clues, help the men with their quest, and stay in constant contact with Colin during the long road trip through the Pacific Southwest. When the first clue takes the group to a destination that reveals something unexpected, Syd realizes that the journey she and Logan have embarked on might just be about more than one type of treasure.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

192 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Kathi Daley

405 books1,784 followers
Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).



Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
478 (71%)
4 stars
136 (20%)
3 stars
47 (7%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for RO G'ma.
1,062 reviews43 followers
May 27, 2025
Fortune or Folly is the tenth book in Kathi Daley’s Resort at Castaway Bay series. The intriguing mystery is well-plotted and complex, with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep readers engaged and guessing. The well-developed characters are three-dimensional, compassionate, and caring. Ms. Daley’s descriptive writing transports me into the story, allowing me to feel the joy and sorrow of the characters. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.

After suffering the consequences of an error in judgment in her job as an FBI forensic psychologist, Sydney Whitmore permanently returned to her family home on Shipwreck. Sydney works part-time for Colin Black of the FBI and Ezra Reinhold, a reclusive billionaire who has assembled an elite team of experts who enjoy solving cold cases. Sydney and her friend, Kelly Green, often help Sheriff Sam Stone with his investigations. Aunt Charlie raised Sydney and her sisters, Emily and Rory, after their parents were killed in an automobile accident. Emily, her two young daughters, and Rory live at Jack’s Hideaway with Aunt Charley and Charley’s father-in-law, Hank Hamilton. Besides helping at the resort, Emily writes a lifestyle blog and volunteers for community events. Rory’s a veterinary technician who frequently brings animals in need of extra attention home with her. Logan Alexander, who also grew up at the resort, returned to the island to care for his father, Liam, and has taken over Henry Collins’ medical practice. Sydney and Logan recently took their long-standing friendship to the next level and are committed to making it work.

In this installment, Colin convinces Sydney to postpone her two-week vacation in Tahiti and Bora Bora with her live-in boyfriend, Logan, so she can help him with a case he admits doesn’t fall within his or Ezra’s work-related parameters. Colin’s deceased father was an FBI agent whose only regret was not being able to solve a case involving high-dollar thefts of artwork and jewelry from museums and galleries across the globe and the theft of millions of dollars in cash from a Las Vegas casino, none of which had ever been recovered. Colin’s father believed Enzo Masterson, aka the Joker, was responsible for the thefts. When Enzo passes away and gifts his four poker buddies from the Sunny Meadows Senior Living Home a road trip with detailed instructions, Colin believes the poker buddies will find clues to the treasure he is convinced Enzo has hidden and hopes to solve the cold case thefts on his father’s behalf. Colin contacts the charter company the seniors rented a luxury motorcoach from and arranges to substitute Sydney and Logan for the original drivers. Sydney’s assignment is to act as one of the charter company’s drivers and keep Colin apprised of the seniors’ activities and clues provided by Enzo’s detailed instructions.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,870 reviews
August 11, 2025
Enzo Masterson dies and leaves his four poker buddies some cryptic clues and a road trip. The rumor is that it may lead to treasure. That may be the case because it's highly probable that Enzo is a renowned thief called "The Joker". Sydney "Syd" Whitmore who's a forensic psychologist and former FBI consultant takes on the job as driver along with her boyfriend, Logan, as a favor to her ex-boss, Colin. Colin has followed The Joker's career and really wants to set things right. Syd's job is to follow the trail and report back. But Syd, Logan, and the others learn that this trip is about more than treasure.

Kathi Daley is one of my top favorite cozy mystery authors and this book's a prime example of why. The book's well-written with characters who are well-developed and believable while the plot is fast-paced. The book is about family, friendship, and connections. I was drawn into this captivating story and kept hooked from start to finish. I really enjoyed the intriguing mystery with its twists and turns. This was a wonderful story, an absolute can't-miss. I loved it and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order so you'll get the most out of things.
Profile Image for Joanie Hinton.
743 reviews28 followers
May 27, 2025
Sydney Whitmore works part time for the FBI, and her boyfriend Logan are planning on a tropical two week vacation. When her boss, Colin, calls with an urgent, personal case, those plans change to taking a motorcoach with four senior men and two senior women on a road trip from Palm Springs to Las Vegas, the Nevada desert, Utah, New Mexico, Flagstaff and Sedona, AZ, and back to Las Vegas. Supposedly a friend from their senior living facility who passed away left them the road trip with a treasure at the end. Colin is convinced that the friend, Enzo Masterson, was the elusive thief, the Joker, that his father had tracked during his FBI career but never caught. What all the members of the road trip discover is maybe more than a treasure of monetary value. But does it ultimately prove if Enzo was the Joker...
Profile Image for Kate.
635 reviews6 followers
August 17, 2025
road trip!

Colin needs a personal favor: driving an RV of 5 retirees on a trip planned by their recently deceased friend, whom Colin knows was a notorious art thief. With Logan and Syd at the wheel the seniors road trip through the Southwest, discovering secrets from their past, saying final good-byes, building new relationships and making peace with their past. It gives Syd and Logan a chance to think about what their next steps to be. Serial killer, yes, but not a current one.
51 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2025
Fortune or Folly

Another exceptionally well written book by Kathi Daley. I haven't a clue how she manages to write such intriguing books in so many series. This book was definitely one of her best. The characters are believable and also people you would enjoy interacting with. They aren't cookie cutter books that you know what's going to happen next.
Thank you Kathi Daley for writing books that I look forward to reading.
123 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2025
A fantastic journey provides info into the past.

Enzo had passed away but had provided his 4 poker buddies with an opportunity to check off things on their bucket list. Colin asked Sydney and Logan to drive the fancy motor coach on the trip. Itvwas a wonderful adventure for all. As always, Kathi Daley gives her readers a chance to share an adventure with the characters in her book.
Profile Image for Cindy.
805 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2025
Great addition to the series

Logan and Syd get sidetracked from their original vacation plans to drive a bunch of seniors around on a bucket list trip. There was also a hint of a treasure to be found and a that the guy who arranged the trip for his friends when he died may have been an art thief.
978 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
Resort at Castaway BAY: Fortune or Folly

This was one of the best stories in this series. The author did a great storyline that was rehashing information such as repeating back conversations. He often does that with some of her stories which seems useless. Anyway great story, characters and storyline.
168 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2025
Excellent!

I have enjoyed all the Resort at Castaway Bay books, and this one was no exception. Just enough, intriguing, just enough danger, and a happy ending, makes for a thoroughly enjoyable book.
890 reviews6 followers
May 29, 2025
Instead of an exotic vacation Sydney and Logan end up on a 2-week treasure hunt with seniors looking for lost treasure, lots of excitement and suspense in the end the treasure if found, issues are resolved and Sydney and Logan are engaged. Great read.
366 reviews7 followers
June 2, 2025
Good book.

A good cozy book. A road trip. Some bucket list things crossed off. A little romance and a hope for stolen treasure. No current killer but a serial killer from the past. And a kidnapping quickly resolved. A fun cosy read.
45 reviews
June 5, 2025
Secret Adventures

I was amazed that I got so involved with the life's of the characters in this Story. I was anxious to find the hidden treasure but what would it BE? Read to the end with a new surprise!
418 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2025
Fun

This was an interesting but somewhat fun story with hidden treasure and bucket lists fulfilled. Syd and Logan are on a road trip with some senior citizens to fulfill bucket lists and a small mystery follows them and some very old cold cases are solved. Loved it.
509 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2025
Resort at Castaway Bay: Fortune or Folly

Heartwarming story of some residents living at a senior center and whose friend left them with a trip to remember and to bring closer to each one. The kick is the background of the man who provided this gift.
40 reviews
June 8, 2025
Take the journey.

I really enjoyed this book not only because I am a senior and I live in Las Vegas but it is very uplifting. It is a mystery and kept me guessing. I also liked the companion ship of the people involved. A good read for anyone.
217 reviews
June 8, 2025
Mystery Search

Sweet sorry if art theft. Rambling road trip filled with intrigue. Nicely written with several characters to make it more interesting.
Readers will enjoy reading it
124 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2025
An exciting story.

A surprised filled story. Always a new development happening. As you wait for the next surprise I got wrapped up with people's stories. Absolutely loved this book.
Profile Image for D.
1,305 reviews16 followers
August 27, 2025
Logan and Syd go undercover

Syd's FBI boss asks her to handle a personal case for him. Logan and Syd chauffeur a group of seniors on a trip of discovery. Will they find the Joker's art heist?
Profile Image for Joanie.
111 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2025
Creative Story

I enjoy this series because I never know what to expect. Although the main characters stay the same, new characters bring a new storyline each time. I wouldn't mind a little more romance, but in general, the pacing and plots are just right.
3,648 reviews17 followers
June 13, 2025
What a neat journey!

This one was special to me, what a great thing to do for friends! I hope someday to make a trip like this with family! Brilliant storyline!
Profile Image for Stephen Levesque.
2,845 reviews
June 17, 2025
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
Profile Image for Millie.
132 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2025
Finally!!

About time Syd and Logan!!! All that travelling has me missing the West!! Twists and turns galore but the best was waiting at home all along!!
416 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2025
Lovely

It was a lot of fun mixed with some intrigue. I enjoyed seeing Syd and Logan spending time together and the seniors were lovely. It as good!
732 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2025
Fortune or Folly

What a road trip. So much happened it’s hard to keep track of it all. But one thing for sure bit made a great story. Treasure. He was a rich man.
Profile Image for JANE VAN HORN.
2,152 reviews12 followers
January 8, 2026
Great book

This is a great series. I loved the characters in this story. What a great idea, to have everyone complete a task on their bucket list.
1 review1 follower
July 29, 2025

Great story, like the combo of older people and younger helping each other out. Lots of suspense. And love that the main characters are getting married!! and took the do with them on this adventure!
976 reviews2 followers
June 1, 2025
This one was different, quite enjoyable, not that the others weren't. This was just a different kind of mystery
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.